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products: oss-community
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# Quickstart

This quickstart guides you through deploying a local instance of Airbyte Core, Airbyte's open source product. Setup only takes a few minutes, and you can start moving data immediately.

## Overview

This quickstart is for most people who want to manage their own Airbyte instance. It assumes you have basic knowledge of command-line tools. It's also helpful, but not necessary, to understand the basics of Docker.

This quickstart shows you how to:

- [Install Docker Desktop](#part-1-install-docker-desktop)
- [Install abctl](#part-2-install-abctl)
- [Run Airbyte](#part-3-run-airbyte)
- [Set up authentication](#part-4-set-up-authentication)
- [Decide on your next steps](#whats-next)

If you don't want to self-manage Airbyte, skip this guide. Sign up for an [Airbyte Cloud](https://cloud.airbyte.com/signup) trial and [start syncing data](add-a-source.md) now.

If you want to use Python to move data, Airbyte's Python library, [PyAirbyte](/developers/using-pyairbyte), might be the best fit for you. It's a good choice if you're using Jupyter Notebook or iterating on an early prototype for a large data project and don't need to run your own server.

## Suggested resources {#suggested-resources}

For best performance, run Airbyte on a machine with 4 or more CPUs and at least 8-GB of memory. Airbyte also runs with 2 CPUs and 8-GB of memory in low-resource mode. This guide explains how to do both. Follow this [Github discussion](https://github.com/airbytehq/airbyte/discussions/44391) to up-vote and track progress toward supporting lower resource environments.

## Part 1: Install Docker Desktop

Install Docker Desktop on your machine, if you haven't already. Follow the steps for your operating system in Docker's online help, linked below.

    - [Mac](https://docs.docker.com/desktop/install/mac-install/)
    - [Windows](https://docs.docker.com/desktop/install/windows-install/)
    - [Linux](https://docs.docker.com/desktop/install/linux-install/) (see [installations on headless virtual machines](#for-linux) for more options)

You don't need to do anything with Docker, but you do need to run it in the background. Once it's open, minimize it and proceed to Part 2.

:::info Why do you need Docker?
Airbyte runs on Kubernetes. When you deploy Airbyte locally, it uses Docker to create a Kubernetes cluster on your computer.
:::

### Linux installations on headless virtual machines {#for-linux}

If you're installing on a Linux headless virtual machine, it's easier to use [Docker Engine](https://docs.docker.com/engine/install/) instead of Docker Desktop. See the [EC2 guide for an example](../../deploying-airbyte/abctl-ec2.md).

## Part 2: Install abctl

abctl is Airbyte's command-line tool for deploying and managing Airbyte.

### Install abctl the fast way (Mac, Linux)

This is the best way to get abctl, but this method doesn't work on Windows.

1. Open a terminal and run the following command.

    ```shell
    curl -LsfS https://get.airbyte.com | bash -
    ```

2. If your terminal asks you to enter your password, do so.

When installation completes, you see `abctl install succeeded.`

### Install abctl manually (Mac, Linux, Windows)

To install abctl yourself, follow the instructions for your operating system.

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<TabItem value="abctl-mac" label="Mac">

Use [Homebrew](https://brew.sh/) to install abctl.

1. Install Homebrew, if you haven't already.

2. Run the following commands after you install Homebrew.

    ```bash
    brew tap airbytehq/tap
    brew install abctl
    ```

3. Keep abctl up to date with Homebrew, too.

    ```bash
    brew upgrade abctl
    ```

</TabItem>
<TabItem value="abctl-linux" label="Linux" default>

1. Verify your processor architecture.

    ```bash
    uname -m
    ```

    If the output is `x86_64`, you'll download the **linux-amd64** release. If the output is `aarch64` or similar, you'll download the **linux-arm64** release.

2. Download the file that is compatible with your machine's processor architecture

    <a class="abctl-download button button--primary" data-architecture="linux" href="https://github.com/airbytehq/abctl/releases/latest" target="_blank" download>Latest Linux Release</a>

3. Extract the archive. This creates a directory named `abctl`, which contains the executable and other needed files.

    ```bash
    tar -xvzf {name-of-file-downloaded.linux-*.tar.gz}
    ```

4. Make the extracted executable accessible. This allows you to run `abctl` as a command.

    ```bash
    chmod +x abctl/abctl
    ```

5. Add `abctl` to your PATH. This allows you to run `abctl` from any directory in your terminal.

    ```bash
    sudo mv abctl /usr/local/bin
    ```

6. Verify the installation. If this command prints the installed version of abctl, you can now use it to manage a local Airbyte instance.

    ```bash
    abctl version
    ```

</TabItem>
<TabItem value="abctl-windows" label="Windows" default>

1. Verify your processor architecture.

    1. Press <kbd><FontAwesomeIcon icon={faWindows} /> Windows</kbd> + <kbd>I</kbd>.

    2. Click **System** > **About**.

    3. Next to **Processor**, if it says `AMD`, you'll download the **windows-amd64** release. If the output is `ARM` or similar, you'll download the **windows-arm64** release.

2. Download the latest release of `abctl`.

    <a class="abctl-download button button--primary" data-architecture="windows" href="https://github.com/airbytehq/abctl/releases/latest" target="_blank" download>Latest Windows Release</a>

3. Extract the zip file to a destination of your choice. This creates a folder containing the abctl executable and other required files. Copy the filepath because you'll need this in a moment.

4. Add the executable to your `Path` environment variable.

    1. Click <FontAwesomeIcon icon={faWindows} /> **Start** and type `environment`.

    2. Click **Edit the system environment variables**. The System Properties opens.

    3. Click **Environment Variables**.

    4. Find the Path variable and click **Edit**.

    5. Click **New**, then paste the file path you saved in step 3.

    6. Click **OK**, then click **OK**, then close the System Properties.

5. Open a new Command Prompt or PowerShell window. Changes to your Path variable only take effect in a new Window.

6. Verify abctl is installed correctly. If this command prints the installed version of abctl, you can now use it to manage a local Airbyte instance.

    ```bash
    abctl version
    ```

</TabItem>
</Tabs>

## Part 3: Run Airbyte

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<TabItem value='local' label='Run locally' default>

1. Open Docker Desktop, [which you installed previously](#part-1-install-docker-desktop).

2. Install Airbyte. To do this, open a terminal and run the following command.

    ```bash
    abctl local install
    ```

    :::note
    If you see the warning `Encountered an issue deploying Airbyte` with the message `Readiness probe failed: HTTP probe failed with statuscode: 503`, allow installation to continue. You may need to allocate more resources for Airbyte, but installation can complete anyway. See [Suggested resources](#suggested-resources).
    :::

3. Enter your **Email** and **Organization name**, then click **Get Started**.

</TabItem>
<TabItem value='http' label='Run over HTTP' default>

1. Open Docker Desktop, [which you installed previously](#part-1-install-docker-desktop).

2. Install Airbyte. To make Airbyte accessible outside `localhost`, specify the `--host` flag and provide a fully qualified domain name for Airbyte's host.

    ```bash
    abctl local install --host example.com
    ```

    If you're running on an insecure/non-HTTPS connection, turn off the secure cookies requirement. If you don't do this, abctl gives you the error: `Your credentials were correct, but the server failed to set a cookie. You appear to have deployed over HTTP. Make sure you have disabled secure cookies.` [Learn more about this error](/platform/deploying-airbyte/troubleshoot-deploy#make-sure-you-have-disabled-secure-cookies).

    ```bash
    abctl local install --host example.com --insecure-cookies
    ```

3. Enter your **Email** and **Organization name**, then click **Get Started**.

</TabItem>
<TabItem value='low-resource' label='Run in low-resource mode' default>

1. Open Docker Desktop, [which you installed previously](#part-1-install-docker-desktop).

2. Install Airbyte. To run Airbyte in a low-resource environment (fewer than 4 CPUs), specify the `--low-resource-mode` flag to the local install command. In low-resource mode, you are unable to access the Connector Builder.

    ```bash
    abctl local install --low-resource-mode
    ```

3. Enter your **Email** and **Organization name**, then click **Get Started**.

</TabItem>
</Tabs>

Installation may take up to 30 minutes depending on your internet connection. When it completes, your Airbyte instance opens in your web browser at [http://localhost:8000](http://localhost:8000), or the host you specified. As long as Docker Desktop is running in the background, use Airbyte by returning to that page. If you quit Docker Desktop and want to return to Airbyte, start Docker Desktop again. Once your containers are running, you can access Airbyte normally.

Airbyte asks you to log in with a password, but you don't have one yet. Proceed to Part 4 to get one.

## Part 4: Set up authentication

To access your Airbyte instance, you need a password.

1. Get your default password.

    ```bash
    abctl local credentials
    ```

    This outputs something like this:

    ```shell
    Credentials:
    Email: user@example.com
    // highlight-next-line
    Password: a-random-password
    Client-Id: 03ef466c-5558-4ca5-856b-4960ba7c161b
    Client-Secret: m2UjnDO4iyBQ3IsRiy5GG3LaZWP6xs9I
    ```

2. Return to your browser and use that password to log into Airbyte.

3. Optional: Since you probably want to set your own password, you can change it any time.

    ```bash
    abctl local credentials --password YourStrongPasswordExample
    ```

    Your Airbyte server restarts. Once it finishes, use your new password to log into Airbyte again.

## What's next

Congratulations! You have a fully functional instance of Airbyte running locally.

### Move data

In Airbyte, you move data from [sources](./add-a-source) to [destinations](./add-a-destination.md). The relationship between a source and a destination is called a [connection](./set-up-a-connection.md). Try moving some data on your local instance.

### Deploy Airbyte

If you want to scale data movement in your organization, you probably need to move Airbyte off your local machine. You can deploy to a cloud provider like AWS, Google Cloud, or Azure. You can also use a single node like an AWS EC2 virtual machine. See the [deployment guide](../../deploying-airbyte/) to learn more.

## Uninstall Airbyte

To stop running all containers, but keep your data:

```shell
abctl local uninstall
```

To stop running containers and delete all data:

1. Uninstall Airbyte with the `--persisted` flag.

    ```shell
    abctl local uninstall --persisted
    ```

2. Clear any remaining information abctl created.

    ```shell
    rm -rf ~/.airbyte/abctl
    ```

<!-- --Preserving for posterity but probably not relevant to include in the quick start. May move to deployment section later.--

## Customizing your Installation with a Values file

Optionally, you can use a `values.yaml` file to customize your installation of Airbyte. Create the `values.yaml` on your local storage. Then, apply the values you've defined by running the following command and adjusting the path to the `values.yaml` file as needed:

```shell
abctl local install --values ./values.yaml
```

Here's a list of common customizations.

- [External Database](../../deploying-airbyte/integrations/database)
- [State and Logging Storage](../../deploying-airbyte/integrations/storage)
- [Secret Management](../../deploying-airbyte/integrations/secrets)
-->